710 lines
55 KiB
Text
710 lines
55 KiB
Text
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#">
|
||
<head>
|
||
<title>Formatting and Visual Clarity | National Institutes of Health (NIH)</title>
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8" />
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">
|
||
//<![CDATA[
|
||
var usasearch_config = { siteHandle:"nih" };
|
||
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script");
|
||
script.type = "text/javascript";
|
||
script.src = "//search.usa.gov/javascripts/remote.loader.js";
|
||
document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script);
|
||
|
||
//]]>
|
||
</script><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" />
|
||
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="rjIoO4vW0AYgltSYvxM1L_CzGIkq28kHf9gHIASKx8s" />
|
||
<link rel="profile" href="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="cleartype" content="on" />
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/nih/apple-touch-icon.png" />
|
||
<meta name="description" content="Visually appealing documents are easier to understand. Consider how your documents look: Layout, formatting, and visual aids can help you connect with your readers and better communicate your message." />
|
||
<meta name="keywords" content="formatting, visual clarity" />
|
||
<meta name="robots" content="follow, index" />
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
|
||
<meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)" />
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/formatting-visual-clarity" />
|
||
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.nih.gov/node/10166" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="content-language" content="EN" />
|
||
<meta property="og:site_name" content="National Institutes of Health (NIH)" />
|
||
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
|
||
<meta property="og:title" content="Formatting and Visual Clarity" />
|
||
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/formatting-visual-clarity" />
|
||
<meta property="og:description" content="Visually appealing documents are easier to understand. Consider how your documents look: Layout, formatting, and visual aids can help you connect with your readers and better communicate your message." />
|
||
<meta property="og:updated_time" content="2022-08-30T08:26:25-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Formatting and Visual Clarity" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/formatting-visual-clarity" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Visually appealing documents are easier to understand. Consider how your documents look: Layout, formatting, and visual aids can help you connect with your readers and better communicate your message." />
|
||
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2015-07-01T14:43:44-04:00" />
|
||
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2022-08-30T08:26:25-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="owner" content="OD" />
|
||
<meta name="published_date" content="2015-07-01T14:43:44-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="last_revision" content="2022-08-30T08:26:25-04:00" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_PfvPCWanzn7FjDwZqwAHhPoOxYKwkQP-RZSK1pFFG0s.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css__mIWP9gcStq74isjZVoAAsiih8VXwJoN75Nyw_BXrj0.css" media="screen" />
|
||
<style media="print">#sb-container{position:relative;}#sb-overlay{display:none;}#sb-wrapper{position:relative;top:0;left:0;}#sb-loading{display:none;}
|
||
</style>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_jENQOQqZCRFGZK__DTefxYiXR2RUf03k1ugj3_Vg7vk.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_3yt-b0M1HNJsvKsXwYjh5TEtX2lJGAvJvtmVAfORYZs.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans:700,regular|Droid+Serif:italic,regular&subset=latin" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_5rDMv37-JxnNA70cRr_1jlAjVs56DCb8EN4XB2QLl0c.css" media="all" />
|
||
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 8]>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_aLJB_yHt22A_mQek4IRDNsur5tEkCpqLe72j_w6QHQ0.css" media="all" />
|
||
<![endif]-->
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_KviiBystpJcQq4MplcQZvCFxnu9V763f5bPq_AKh4xM.css" media="all" />
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_mQAv54bz2JVXcwS5QWlz0fVY9Os67zeu9bgNqtlVLPY.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-2.2.4.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery/2.2/jquery.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.migrateMute=true;jQuery.migrateTrace=false;</script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-migrate-1.4.1.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery && window.jQuery.migrateWarnings || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery-migrate/1.4.1/jquery-migrate.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_9sGTPBGcOGZjLiSLGrYEnuUf8VdvLmL_DEZNNNbnHXk.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_hNnF7a_sbk6nZ2-mOamHzalYND7HBHDLRInsaU93HDk.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_gHk2gWJ_Qw_jU2qRiUmSl7d8oly1Cx7lQFrqcp3RXcI.js"></script>
|
||
<script>document.createElement( "picture" );</script>
|
||
<script src="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script defer="defer" src="//script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0011/2616.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_3s0l7MQ3oYmGkNAypyzCJq3a0wT85XX_P1SLgnph5K4.js"></script>
|
||
<script>
|
||
Shadowbox.path = "/sites/all/libraries/shadowbox/";
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"instances":"{\u0022default\u0022:{\u0022content\u0022:{\u0022text\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022style\u0022:{\u0022tip\u0022:false,\u0022classes\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022position\u0022:{\u0022at\u0022:\u0022bottom right\u0022,\u0022adjust\u0022:{\u0022method\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022my\u0022:\u0022top left\u0022,\u0022viewport\u0022:false},\u0022show\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseenter \u0022},\u0022hide\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseleave \u0022}}}","qtipDebug":"{\u0022leaveElement\u0022:0}","shadowbox":{"animate":true,"animateFade":true,"animSequence":"wh","auto_enable_all_images":1,"auto_gallery":1,"autoplayMovies":true,"continuous":false,"counterLimit":10,"counterType":"default","displayCounter":true,"displayNav":true,"enableKeys":true,"fadeDuration":0.34999999999999998,"handleOversize":"resize","handleUnsupported":"link","initialHeight":160,"initialWidth":320,"language":"en","modal":false,"overlayColor":"#000","overlayOpacity":0.80000000000000004,"resizeDuration":0.55000000000000004,"showMovieControls":true,"slideshowDelay":0,"viewportPadding":20,"useSizzle":false},"picture":{"mappings":[["Sidebar media mappings","sidebar_media_mappings"],["Floated media mappings","floated_media_mappings"],["Not Set","not_set"]],"label":"Image size (required)"},"extlink":{"extTarget":"_blank","extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":0,"extIconPlacement":0,"extSubdomains":1,"extExclude":"(.\\.nih\\.gov.)|(.\\.cancer\\.gov.)|(.\\.genome\\.gov.)|(.\\.drugabuse\\.gov.)|(locatorplus\\.gov.)|(.\\.govdelivery\\.com.)|(.\\.hatchbuck\\.com.)|(nihseniorhealth\\.gov.)|(clinicaltrials\\.gov.)|(search\\.usa\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(search\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(drugabuse\\.gov.)|(medlineplus\\.gov.)|(collegedrinkingprevention\\.gov.)|(smokefree\\.gov.)|(arpa-h\\.gov.)|(nih\\.sharepoint\\.com)","extInclude":"(.\\.pagefreezer\\.com.)","extCssExclude":".media, .emergency-message, .slideshow-main, .bean-home-slideshow-2l-block","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":"_blank","extAlertText":"You are leaving the NIH website.\r\n\r\nThis external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. NIH cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.\r\n\r\nLinking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site\u2019s privacy policy when you follow the link.","mailtoClass":"mailto","mailtoLabel":"(link sends e-mail)","extUseFontAwesome":0}});</script>
|
||
|
||
<script type="application/javascript" id="uws-snippet">
|
||
// Verint Unified WebSDK Integration Snippet v2.3
|
||
//
|
||
// Instructions: please embed this snippet directly into every page of your website template.
|
||
// For optimal performance, this should be embedded directly into the template, not referenced as
|
||
// an external file.
|
||
//
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY BELOW THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
(function () {
|
||
var cookies = document.cookie.split("; ").reduce(function (o, i) { var p = i.split("="); o[p[0]] = p[1]; return o; }, {});
|
||
var containerValue = cookies.uws_container_override && JSON.parse(decodeURIComponent(cookies.uws_container_override));
|
||
var config = {
|
||
moduleHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
configHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
siteKey: "nih-gov",
|
||
container: containerValue || "live",
|
||
loadTime: Date.now()
|
||
};
|
||
var readyCallbacks = []; window.uwsReady = function (callback) { readyCallbacks.push(callback); };
|
||
var sdkPath = "//" + [config.moduleHost, "files/sites", config.siteKey, config.container, "sdk.js"].join("/");
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script"); script.src = sdkPath; script.async = true; script.type = "module";
|
||
script.addEventListener("load", function () { window.unifiedSDK.start(config, readyCallbacks); });
|
||
document.head.appendChild(script);
|
||
})();
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY ABOVE THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
</script>
|
||
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body class="html not-front not-logged-in page-node page-node- page-node-10166 node-type-nih-basic-page section navigation-plain-language section-institutes-nih">
|
||
<a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a>
|
||
<noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5CBCNW2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>
|
||
<div class="l-page has-one-sidebar has-sidebar-first">
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-page-content">
|
||
|
||
<header class="l-header" role="banner">
|
||
<div class="l-ribbon-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-ribbon">
|
||
<li><span class="ribbon-hhs"></span><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health & Human Services</a><span class="ribbon-right"></span></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div> <div class="l-banner-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-banner">
|
||
<div class="l-branding">
|
||
<a class="nih-logo icon-nih-logo" href="/" title="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" rel="home"><img src="/sites/all/themes/nih/images/nih-logo-color.png" width="390" height="60" alt="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" /></a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- DigitalGov Search -->
|
||
<form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" id="search" class="search-form site-search" method="get">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nih" />
|
||
<label for="query" class="hide">Search the NIH Website</label>
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-site-search" id="query" name="query" type="text" placeholder="Search NIH" /><input type="submit" name="commit" value="Search" class="form-button form-button-site-search" />
|
||
</form>
|
||
<ul class="banner-utilities">
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ned.nih.gov/">Staff Directory</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-navigation-wrapper">
|
||
<!-- ****************** SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Site Menu</h2>
|
||
<nav class="l-menu-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-menu">
|
||
<!-- ********* HOME TAB (Mobile view only) ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-home">
|
||
<div class="tab home"><a href="/"><span>Home</span></a></div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* HEALTH INFO TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-healthinfo tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/health-information"><span>Health Information</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/health-care-facilities/index.html">Health Care Providers & Facilities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/health-info-lines">Health Info Lines</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.healthcare.gov">HealthCare.gov</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you">NIH Clinical Research Trials and You</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor">Talking to Your Doctor</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/clear-health-nih" title="">Clear Health A–Z</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/health-information" title="More Health Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<form id="hipsearch" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" method="get" class="search-form">
|
||
<p class="subhead"><label for="query2">Search Health Topics</label></p>
|
||
<div class="input-wrapper">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="hip" />
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="dc" value="940" />
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" maxlength="50" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-search" id="query2" name="query" type="text" />
|
||
<input name="commit" type="submit" value="Go" id="searchbutton" class="form-button" />
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-medlineplus" href="https://medlineplus.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">MedlinePlus Health Info</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-wellnesstoolkits" href="/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits"><span class="minibadge-text">Wellness Toolkits</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* GRANTS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-grants tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/grants-funding"><span>Grants & Funding</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov">Grants Home Page</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/index.htm">Find Funding</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/due-dates-and-submission-policies/due-dates.htm">Due Dates</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.html">How to Apply</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/about_grants.htm">About Grants</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/policy/index.htm">Policy & Compliance</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/">Grants News/Blog</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/contracts.htm">Contracts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.lrp.nih.gov/">Loan Repayment</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/grants-funding" title="More Grants & Funding Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-report" href="https://report.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">RePORT</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-era" href="https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/"><span class="minibadge-text">eRA Commons</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-commonfund" href="https://commonfund.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Common Fund</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* NEWS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-news tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/news-events"><span>News & Events</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/news-releases">News Releases</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/digital-media-kits">Digital Media Kits</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-resources">Media Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-contacts">Media Contacts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/images-b-roll">Images and B-roll</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/events">Events</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/social-media-outreach">Social Media</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/news-events" title="More News & Events">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-researchmatters" href="/news-events/nih-research-matters"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Research Matters</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihrecord" href="https://nihrecord.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Record</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* RESEARCH TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-research tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/research-training"><span>Research & Training</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/medical-research-initiatives">Medical Research Initiatives</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-highlights">Science Highlights</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-nih-labs-clinics">Research in NIH Labs & Clinics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/training-opportunities">Training Opportunities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/library-resources">Library Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-resources">Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/clinical-research-resources">Clinical Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/safety-regulation-guidance">Safety, Regulation and Guidance</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/research-training" title="More Research & Training">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-pubmed" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">PubMed</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-stemcell" href="https://stemcells.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">Stem Cell Information</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-oppnet" href="https://oppnet.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">OppNet</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nidb" href="https://intramural.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIDB</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihblueprint" href="https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* INSTITUTES TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-institutes tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/institutes-nih"><span>Institutes at NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/list-institutes-centers">List of Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director">NIH Office of the Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/directors-nih-institutes-centers">Directors of NIH Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-institute-center-contact-information">NIH Institute and Center Contact Information</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/institutes-nih" title="More About the Institutes at NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="ic-acronymn-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cancer.gov" title="National Cancer Institute">NCI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nei.nih.gov" title="National Eye Institute">NEI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov" title="National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute">NHLBI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.genome.gov" title="National Human Genome Research Institute">NHGRI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Aging">NIA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism">NIAAA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases">NIAID</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niams.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases">NIAMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nibib.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering">NIBIB</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov" title="Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development">NICHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders">NIDCD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research">NIDCR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases">NIDDK</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nida.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Drug Abuse">NIDA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences">NIEHS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nigms.nih.gov" title="National Institute of General Medical Sciences">NIGMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Mental Health">NIMH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities">NIMHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke">NINDS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Nursing Research">NINR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov" title="National Library of Medicine">NLM</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cc.nih.gov" title="NIH Clinical Center">CC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cit.nih.gov" title="Center for Information Technology">CIT</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.csr.nih.gov" title="Center for Scientific Review">CSR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.fic.nih.gov" title="Fogarty International Center">FIC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ncats.nih.gov" title="National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences">NCATS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nccih.nih.gov" title="National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health">NCCIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* ABOUT TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-about tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/about-nih"><span>About NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do">What We Do</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://hr.nih.gov/jobs">Jobs at NIH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/about-nih/explore-nih">Explore NIH</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/about-nih" title="More About NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director">The NIH Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Take the Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health">NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/impact-nih-research">Impact of NIH Research</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust">Science, Health, and Public Trust</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<div class="tab-bkgnd"></div><!-- For pixel rounding issue -->
|
||
</nav>
|
||
<!-- ****************** END SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-main-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-main" id="page-content">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">You are here</h2><div class="breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a> » <a href="/institutes-nih">Institutes at NIH</a> » <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director">NIH Office of the Director</a> » <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison">Office of Communications & Public Liaison</a> » <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication">Clear Communication</a> » <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language">Plain Language</a></div> <div class="l-region l-region--section-header">
|
||
<div id="block-block-86" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-86" id="block-block-86" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-86">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<h2><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language">Plain Language</a></h2> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<aside class="l-region l-region--sidebar-first">
|
||
<nav id="block-menu-block-23" role="navigation" class="block block--menu-block subnav block--menu-block-23">
|
||
<h3 class="block__title"><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language" title="Plain Language" class="active-trail">Plain Language</a></h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-23 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-1286 menu-level-1">
|
||
<ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-7371"><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/training">Training</a></li>
|
||
<li class="leaf menu-mlid-12301"><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/resources">Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li class="last leaf menu-mlid-12311"><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/contacts">Contacts</a></li>
|
||
</ul></div>
|
||
</nav>
|
||
</aside>
|
||
<div class="l-content-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-content" role="main">
|
||
<a id="main-content"></a>
|
||
<div about="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/formatting-visual-clarity" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document" class="ds-1col node node--nih-basic-page view-mode-full node--full node--nih-basic-page--full clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class='syndicate'><h1>Formatting and Visual Clarity</h1><div><p class="lead">Visually appealing documents are easier to understand. Consider how your documents look: Layout, formatting, and visual aids can help you connect with your readers and better communicate your message.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>On the six cards below, learn about how to use layout and formatting. You can flip the cards over to see more, too. The navigation bar above will stay with you, and you can click on it at any time to move to another topic.</p>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-container masonry-container masonry-container-wide-boxes"><!-- CARD 1 -->
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Let them skim</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>Most readers will glance over a document before they start reading to try to find the information they're looking for. Their eyes will move quickly down the page, drawn to any visual clues about what's there.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Readers on the Web, in particular, will move on to something else if they don't find what they're looking for quickly. You can make your document more user-friendly by providing cues that promote skimming.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Sample of text formatted on a page" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=xir-3-Dg&timestamp=1438633880 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=pWYPEm3_&timestamp=1438633880 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=RnKsbuEB&timestamp=1438633880 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=F4EREAIt&timestamp=1438633880 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=2qtn9tUG&timestamp=1438633880 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-1-back.jpg?itok=pWYPEm3_&timestamp=1438633880" alt="Sample of text formatted on a page." title="Sample of text formatted on a page" />
|
||
</picture></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>Visual elements like <strong>bolded words, lists,</strong> and <strong>headers</strong> help readers skim over your document.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Skim this Web page. What elements catch your eye? How are those elements set off from other content on the page? Why is some content set off while other content is not?</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 2 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="People interacting with tablet computers" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=_xA6zEGJ&timestamp=1438634000 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=OB_NULk0&timestamp=1438634000 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=MvjhvzfE&timestamp=1438634000 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=dr3XDIgW&timestamp=1438634000 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=FjFVEKrY&timestamp=1438634000 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-2-front_0.jpg?itok=OB_NULk0&timestamp=1438634000" alt="People interacting with tablet computers." title="People interacting with tablet computers" />
|
||
</picture><span class="credit">Thinkstock/shironosov</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p class="quote">“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p class="caption">— Steve Jobs, inventor, entrepreneur</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 4 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>A visual aid should clarify</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Sample of an infographic" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=VDeq_tVD&timestamp=1438634351 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=thhCoAFX&timestamp=1438634351 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=rl7YCr_3&timestamp=1438634351 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=5FpdOkC4&timestamp=1438634351 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=8AZMhCda&timestamp=1438634351 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-4-front_0.jpg?itok=thhCoAFX&timestamp=1438634351" alt="Sample of an infographic showing that about 1 in 9 youth or 11.4 percent of young people aged 12 to 25 used prescription drugs non medically within the past year." title="Sample of an infographic" />
|
||
</picture></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>Visual tools can help explain your content. (Flip for more examples.)</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Infographics</strong> can provide a clear visual representation of data, relationships, or ideas.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Tables</strong> can make complex information easier to understand. They're useful for making comparisons and showing relationships without using a lot of text.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p><strong>Lists</strong> group similar items. Lists are much easier for readers to skim than paragraphs. Numbered lists are ideal for items that are sequenced or ranked; other lists may be bulleted.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Other examples include inserts, charts, maps, and checklists.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Make sure the tool you use matches your content and the needs of your audience. You can't explain everything with a pie chart!</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 3 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Make your organization clear</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>Show your readers how your document is organized. <strong>Headings</strong> help your readers scan your document to locate the information they need. In longer documents, add a <strong>table of contents</strong> at the beginning, too.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>These devices improve readability because:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>They make it easier for readers to find what they want.</li>
|
||
<li>They make your content less intimidating by dividing it into "chunks."</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Thought balloons that say where? what? who? how? why? when?" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=em3OVKzV&timestamp=1438714033 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=e6EqfRo1&timestamp=1438714033 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=JfHkwydz&timestamp=1438714033 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=InhzROr8&timestamp=1438714033 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=juvBf4sR&timestamp=1438714033 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-3-back_0.jpg?itok=e6EqfRo1&timestamp=1438714033" alt="Thought balloons that say where? what? who? how? why? when?" title="Thought balloons that say where? what? who? how? why? when?" />
|
||
</picture><span class="credit">Thinkstock / Vlad Kochelaevskiy</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>There are several ways to write a heading:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><strong>Question.</strong> "What are the two types of breast reconstruction surgery?"</li>
|
||
<li><strong>Phrase.</strong> "Two types of breast reconstruction surgery"</li>
|
||
<li><strong>Declarative sentence.</strong> "There are two main types of breast reconstruction surgery."</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 6 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>What type of typography?</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Typography</strong> refers to fonts and other visual elements in a document, such as bullets and italics.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Some styles of typography are easier to read than others. Choose a style based on readability, not fanciness.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-png view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Comparison of several decorative, serif, and sans-serif font styles for legibility" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=pxrkcKkf&timestamp=1435777539 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=_oixLWse&timestamp=1435777539 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=0fSmV_rH&timestamp=1435777539 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=R17jUtaK&timestamp=1435777539 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=LDbKSCE7&timestamp=1435777539 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-front.png?itok=_oixLWse&timestamp=1435777539" alt="Comparison of several decorative, serif, and sans-serif font styles for legibility." title="Comparison of several decorative, serif, and sans-serif font styles for legibility" />
|
||
</picture></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="The letters A, B, and C repeated in a block pattern" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=ewb1vsKA&timestamp=1438714265 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=m6yI92D1&timestamp=1438714265 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=iYi5v_Uy&timestamp=1438714265 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=ab_JiPfm&timestamp=1438714265 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=pxvqouB_&timestamp=1438714265 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-6-back_0.jpg?itok=m6yI92D1&timestamp=1438714265" alt="The letters A, B, and C repeated in a block pattern." title="The letters A, B, and C repeated in a block pattern" />
|
||
</picture><span class="credit">iStock/kjohansen</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>You can change the typography in your document to emphasize or set off certain words or phrases:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>You can highlight key ideas in <strong>bold</strong> to catch the eyes of a skimming reader.</li>
|
||
<li>You can <em>italicize</em> new vocabulary words and underline the main part of a definition.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 5 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>The importance of white space</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Sample of a document making good use of white space" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=MoTc2ovp&timestamp=1438634457 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=rCEuz1zg&timestamp=1438634457 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=HscEP05w&timestamp=1438634457 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=ZnSG5dEr&timestamp=1438634457 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=5o8RLHbj&timestamp=1438634457 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/format-visual-5-front.jpg?itok=rCEuz1zg&timestamp=1438634457" alt="Sample of a document making good use of white space." title="Sample of a document making good use of white space" />
|
||
</picture></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>White space in your document breaks up your text and makes it easier to understand.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>You can create white space by providing <strong>adequate margins</strong> and <strong>space between sections. Headers</strong> and design tools like <strong>lists</strong> also create white space.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- End Masonry container -->
|
||
|
||
<h2>Where would you like to go next?</h2>
|
||
|
||
<div class="masonry-container">
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/before-you-start-writing">Before You Start Writing</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/connecting-your-readers">Connecting with Your Readers</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/presenting-your-information">Presenting Your Information</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue button-disabled" href="#">Formatting and Visual Clarity</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/testing-revising">Testing and Revising</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/plain-language-getting-started-or-brushing">Start Over!</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<p>Ready to start writing in plain language? <a href="/sites/default/files/institutes/plain-language/nih-plain-language-checklist-updated.pdf">Download this checklist to refer to as you write.</a></p>
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="lastupdated">
|
||
<p>This page last reviewed on August 30, 2022</p> </div> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="l-connect-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-connect">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Connect with Us</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="contactus-monochrome" href="/about-nih/contact-us"><span class="icon"></span>Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="twitter-monochrome" href="https://twitter.com/NIH"><span class="icon"></span>X</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="facebook-monochrome" href="https://www.facebook.com/nih.gov"><span class="icon"></span>Facebook</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="instagram-monochrome" href="https://www.instagram.com/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Instagram</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="youtube-monochrome" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nihod"><span class="icon"></span>YouTube</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="flickr-monochrome" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Flickr</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="social-monochrome" href="/news-events/social-media-outreach"><span class="icon"></span>More Social Media from NIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-footer-wrapper">
|
||
<footer class="l-footer" role="contentinfo">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Footer</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/">NIH Home</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/disclaimers">Disclaimers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/nih-website-archives">NIH Website Archives</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/nondiscrimination-notice">Nondiscrimination Notice</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/freedom-information-act-office">Freedom of Information Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.edi.nih.gov/no-fear-act">No Fear Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://oig.hhs.gov">Office of Inspector General</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="lastTab" href="https://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></p>
|
||
<p>National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892</p>
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a></p>
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="back-to-top"><a href="#"><span class="icon-arrow-up"></span><span class="text">Back to Top</span></a></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_7Ukqb3ierdBEL0eowfOKzTkNu-Le97OPm-UqTS5NENU.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_E9yUYWK8EMydR0HMIp2PahVxPAClXyH0Cnh782A15UM.js"></script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html>
|
||
|